Who are the West Indies?

I spent four years in country newspapers before taking on a dream role of covering national and international sports news across the entire APN network, in early 2012.
I learnt my trade in Kingaroy, Queanbeyan and Lismore doing it all – design, photography and headline writing.
I am now the envy of all my friends and family members, now that I have the privilege of covering Origin, Bledisloe Cups, footy grand finals and other top international sporting events.
Yes, I wouldn’t trade this job for...

When West Indian fast bowling legend Courtney Walsh proclaimed the next superstar would emerge from the current Test squad, experts scratched their heads.

How could that be possible in a team which was humbled by 10 wickets against a Cricket Australia XI outfit full of young Sheffield Shield rejects last week?

The once-great West Indies have been written off going into the three-Test series against Australia, starting in Hobart tomorrow, listed by bookies at $34 to win the series.

Their chances have also been hit for six by the absence of several stars, with Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy preferring to play on the lucrative Twenty20 circuit.

APN cricket writer Josh Spasaro put the microscope over the touring squad to see just who that next Windies superstar could be, and to see whether they could offer a stronger challenge than suggested by their limp effort in Brisbane.

Jason Holder (24, capt)

Averages just under 30 with the bat and just over 33 with the ball, bowling medium-fast. Shows the desperate state of West Indian cricket - team captain with only 10 Tests.

Kraigg Brathwaite (23, vice capt)

Has made four hundreds from 24 Tests, and bowls handy off-spin, averaging 23.71.

Marlon Samuels (34)

Talked up as the next West Indian superstar 15 years ago, but an enigmatic career has seen him play just 61 Tests with seven hundreds.

Devendra Bishoo (30)

Made headlines for a good drifting and turning ball which dismissed Brad Haddin earlier this year, but has only 55 wickets from 15 Tests at 38.05 each.

Jermaine Blackwood (24)

Showed potential with a debut 63 against New Zealand last year, including a straight six off paceman Trent Boult.

Carlos Brathwaite (27)

Yet to make Test debut, but has a batting average of just 10.14 and an ugly bowling average of 75.33 in seven one-dayers.

Darren Bravo (26)

A left-handed batsman of genuine talent - six hundreds from 39 Tests at 40.91. Has the same walk and back-lift as Brian Lara, but would need more runs to go to that level. The most likely of the current bunch to be that next superstar.

Rajendra Chandrika (26)

The Australian attack will fancy itself against him - his only Test saw him make a pair against the Aussies in June.

Shane Dowrich (24)

Wicketkeeper-batsman made a patient 70 in more than four hours on debut in the first Test against Australia in Dominica in early June.

Shannon Gabriel (27)

Paceman compared to a young Ian Bishop, but needs to improve his average of 37.03 from 15 Tests.

Shai Hope (22)

Made his Test debut at 21 against England in 2015 after scoring 628 runs in nine first-class matches.

Denesh Ramdin (30)

Solid wicketkeeper-batsman, but consistency lets him down, averaging only 25.84 from 71 Tests.

Kemar Roach (27)

Shattered Ricky Ponting's elbow in 2009. Has a decent record with 122 wickets at 28.21 from 34 Tests.

Jerome Taylor (31)

Another paceman to show good form without dominating, with 128 wickets at 32.99 in 43 Tests.

Jomel Warrican (23)

Left-arm spinner who took six wickets in his only Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in October.